Hampshire’s Hartwell runs big in return

October 6, 2012

ROMNEY - A disciplinary issue sidelined Denard Hartwell a week ago when Hampshire suffered a narrow loss on the road to Keyser.

Hartwell's play sidelined the senior running back on Friday night as Hampshire hosted Buckhannon-Upshur at Rannells Field for its homecoming game.

The speedy and elusive Hartwell ran for 123 yards on nine carries in the first half and had a pair of other long runs wiped out by penalties as the Trojans routed the Buccaneers 40-7 in the team's first meeting in history.

Then Hartwell went to the sideline to watch the second half when Hampshire possessed the football.

"I felt like I let the team down," Hartwell said of his absence a week earlier. "I definitely feel like I helped out tonight. I was real anxious; I felt like I didn't play in a while."

"He's very talented. If we keep him healthy, we'll be in good shape on offense."

The Trojans were in very good shape against Buckhannon-Upshur on offense all night long.

They rushed for 377 yards in improving to 4-2 and staying in the Class AAA playoff mix.

Calab Landis added 80 yards passing on two completions to Trevor Largent, the second going for 32 yards and a touchdown to make the score 33-0 late in the second quarter.

Prior to that score, Buckhannon-Upshur faced a heavy dose of Hartwell, who scored touchdown runs of 19 and 25 yards on two quick-strike drives that lasted a total of 2 minutes, 27 seconds and covered 68 yards each.

"I think we got a real good line, and that's a big reason why we run the ball so well," Hartwell said. "I felt fresh and was able to find the holes."

When he finds them and dashes through the defense, his moves are like those seen on "Dancing With the Stars."

"I like to juke," Hartwell said.

The Trojans made it 20-0 on their third series as backup fullback Jacob Bean pushed over from the 1 with 20 seconds left in the first quarter. Hartwell had runs of 22 and 20 runs on the series.

Hampshire made it four touchdowns in four possessions on its next series when Landis sneaked over from the 1 after Hartwell ran 19 yards to the 1.

Landis threw 32 yards to Largent for a touchdown on Hampshire's next series.

"I was happy with the way we came out and played," Grace said. "The defense did some good things, and the offense played real well.

"I'm disappointed with all the holding penalties, though, and the illegal procedures. We had more of them than we had all season."

Hampshire was flagged for 90 yards worth of penalties.

The Trojans, who took a 40-0 lead on Charlie McDonald's 11-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, lost Jacob Pezzanite to a series leg injury after a 38-yard kickoff return.

That play came after Seth Cutright scored a 1-yard touchdown run for Buckhannon-Upshur. The Buccaneers were set up with good field postion whena fake punt - not called from the sideline, Grace emphasized - failed as an open receiver dropped a perfect pass from Dane Heavener.

Cutright, who rushed 25 times for 132 yards and caught four passes for 96 yards, capped a six-play drive that started at Hampshire's 27-yard line.

Buckhannon-Upshur managed 268 yards of total offense, 157 of it coming through the air.